New York ponders an extended Election Day

New York is considering extending voting past Nov. 6 to allow those affected by Superstorm Sandy to cast their votes, but at least one incumbent from the state says that would “wreak havoc,” and that if he wins on Tuesday, “then I’ve won.”

John Conklin, a spokesman for the state Board of Elections, told Gannett News that state law allows for an extra day of in-person voting sometime within 20 days of Election Day if turnout is less than 25 percent because of a natural disaster.

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“It’s a possibility,” Mr. Conklin said. “I can’t rule it out, but it would be determined after Election Day.”

Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat, said on Fox News on Saturday that that would result in a drawn-out ordeal that would leave politicians hanging.

“There’s no reason except despondency and lack of enthusiasm in terms of people who want to vote not to vote,” he said.

Mr. Rangel compared the waiting game that would result to when George W. Bush “snatched,” he said, the election in Florida after a recount in 2000.

New York already has extended the postmark deadline for absentee ballots to Monday.